Burning Behavior of Selected Automotive Parts From a Minivan.
Burning Behavior of Selected Automotive Parts From a
Minivan.
(6291 K)
Ohlemiller, T. J.; Shields, J. R.
NISTIR 6143; 81 p. August 1998.
Sponsor:
General Motors Corp., Warren, MI
Order number: PB98-144462
Keywords:
motor vehicle fires; combustion; ignition source; heat
release rate; mass loss; heat flux; flammability; fire
behavior
Abstract:
Selected functional parts from a minivan were subjected
to a gas flame ignition source and burned in a manner
that allowed measurement of the resulting total heat
release rate, mass loss and heat fluxes to the
surroundings. This study was undertaken to: (1) assess
a possible means for determining the flammability
characteristics of automotive components, (2) obtain
data on the range of flammability behavior exhibited by
such components and the physical processes underlying
that behavior, and (3) obtain insights into the fire
behavior seen in related full-scale vehicle fires. for
most of the vehicle components examined in this study, a
significant aspect of the burn behavior was the
development of this pool fire and revealed a strong
influence on the fire intensity. Other parts exhibited
a wide variety of behavior influenced not only by their
constituent polymer resins but also by their shapes,
sizes and internal structures.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899